23 hours ago, T.Mop said:

Hi Mzezman,

 

Since installing the 2nd SS have the AC Overload Errors Reduced? How has it been running 2xSS in parallel?

 

Looking to get quoted on a system and i'm trying to decide between 1x 8kW or 2x5kW in parallel?

Hey T.Mop,

 

Deciding on the size and numbers of inverters will directly depend on what you want running through the system and then what your loads consist of.

Do you want all circuits running through the system or only some such as lights and some plug points?

How many electric geysers do you have and do you know the element rating 2kW, 3kW or 4kW?

What other big draw appliances do you have?

For context I chose to go with 2 x 5kW SS due to the needs, we are essentially two households so think of what a normal house has and multiple that by 2. Also I wanted everything run through the system except the ovens. Both houses have since converted to gas hobs.

2 x geysers at 2kW and 4kW respectively - run at different times, on a CBi Astute Smart Switch

Washing machines, dishwasher, TV's, fridges, deep freezer, home office equipment, home network equipment etc. and other electronics.

All the big draw items are 99% of time run during sun hours to maximise the system, so you will also need to change your behaviours in doing washing during the day for example when the sun is banging and its costing you nothing so to speak 🙂

 

Hit us back with some info about your usage and what you want to get out of the system then we can give you some guidance...one thing for sure you will not regret getting the system!

 

My system turned 3yrs last month (December) and its been smooth sailing the whole time. Had upgrades in years 1 and 2 with nothing in the last 12 months

Year 4 Update - running swimmingly

On 2024/01/29 at 3:27 PM, T.Mop said:

Looking to get quoted on a system and i'm trying to decide between 1x 8kW or 2x5kW in parallel?

A competent installer would advise you. There is a bakkie brigade that does PV installations, and there are guys who are more thorough. The guys you want are the guys who will come to your place, look at where you want the inverter installed, will understand how you heat water and when you want it hot, will get an idea of the consumption in your house and so on. One is working to as low a price as possible, the other is working to the client's needs.

Good installers will also make sure the system you just spent money on is properly protected with surge protectors (I have SEVEN in my home now, 3 AC and 4 DC). If you're in Cape Town they should take care of the registration process for you.

34 minutes ago, Bobster. said:

A competent installer would advise you. There is a bakkie brigade that does PV installations, and there are guys who are more thorough. The guys you want are the guys who will come to your place, look at where you want the inverter installed, will understand how you heat water and when you want it hot, will get an idea of the consumption in your house and so on. One is working to as low a price as possible, the other is working to the client's needs.

Good installers will also make sure the system you just spent money on is properly protected with surge protectors (I have SEVEN in my home now, 3 AC and 4 DC). If you're in Cape Town they should take care of the registration process for you.

7? Wow. I can see one for input to the house and indirectly the inverter. Then one for essential and non essential? I have 2, only on the outputs as I dont have a grid input cable to the inverter.

4DC? I can see one for each input to the inverter MPPT. Typically 2 for such inverters. I think the most I have seen is 3 MPPT Inputs. How do you have 4? DC I have 2, one for my inverter MPPT input and the other for the Geysercontroller MPPT input.

Edited December 3, 2025Dec 3 by Denns

3 hours ago, Denns said:

7? Wow. I can see one for input to the house and indirectly the inverter. Then one for essential and non essential? I have 2, only on the outputs as I dont have a grid input cable to the inverter.

4DC? I can see one for each input to the inverter MPPT. Typically 2 for such inverters. I think the most I have seen is 3 MPPT Inputs. How do you have 4? DC I have 2, one for my inverter MPPT input and the other for the Geysercontroller MPPT input.

AC: One on the input to the inverter, one on the output from the inverter (I am guessing this is part of pre-populated DB the installed used), and one in the main DB as one would usually find such a device. I asked for the last such some time after the install. I asked the electrician to install one in the DB for the out buildings, but he said it would not be necessary once I had one in the main DB.

DC: I have two strings of panels, and there is surge protector for each side of those strings.

People in Gauteng need to think about SPDs given the number of electric storms we've had lately. The electrician was at my place again today (nothing to do with SPDs). He says he's been very busy since the storms started.

3 hours ago, Bobster. said:

AC: One on the input to the inverter, one on the output from the inverter (I am guessing this is part of pre-populated DB the installed used), and one in the main DB as one would usually find such a device. I asked for the last such some time after the install. I asked the electrician to install one in the DB for the out buildings, but he said it would not be necessary once I had one in the main DB.

DC: I have two strings of panels, and there is surge protector for each side of those strings.

People in Gauteng need to think about SPDs given the number of electric storms we've had lately. The electrician was at my place again today (nothing to do with SPDs). He says he's been very busy since the storms started.

Oh yeah I can agree. I have 3 x AC, Main DB, AC DB for the system, one on the outside DB and about to install another one on another DB. Then 3 x DC…for the 3 x strings. I learnt a tough lesson a year ago with that storm early November.

I also agree on the importance of an expert installer, lets just say the initial install was below par and I only found that out when the 2nd installer advised and pointed out the flaws and then corrected everything that left the system and the house vulnerable. Good people are hard to come by these days.